Detachable button



V. F. MELFI.

DETACHABLE BUTTON.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 12, 1920.

Patented Feb. 15,1921.

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J T/ INVENTOR 7 w, m fiat? 4170mmtral cylindrical opening a extending therethrough.

Cooperating with said head is attaching means comprising a back plate 7) Which may be formed of the same materials as the head or of sheet metal, as desired. The plate 6' has an opening I) therethrough axially alined with the opening a in the head a.

Carried by the plate 6 about the opening (3 are a plurality of yieldable tongues 0 adapted to pass into the opening a, each of said tongues having an outwardly extending overhang c at the end thereof adapted, with the separation of the tongues by means of a wedge (Z, to enter a cooperating recess a in the wall of the opening a.

About the tongues c, 'Iemp'loy' a ring 6 of soft. rubber, cork, felt, or other material,

of a thickness to form the leg necessary to be formed in attaching any button to agarment composed of heavy fabric. This ring or washer will also protect and conceal the portions of the tongues between the garment and the head a. l

A fragmentary portion of the garment is indicated at f in the drawings.

The opening a is "utilized solely for receiving and retaining the lugs 0 and applying the'wedge cl thereto in assembling the button, while the opening I) is utilized'to permit access to said wedge to facilitate its removal to permit the separation of the head from the attaching means.

The. structural characteristics above described are common to both forms of the invention shown, the sole difference of structure between the form shown in Figs.

'1 and 2 and the form shown in Figs. 3 and '0 so as to prevent relative rotary movement of the head aand its cooperating attaching means. In this form of the invention, the recessed portion a of the opening a opens into the top face of the head a, and leads from the tops of the respective longitudinal slots or channels a V In this form of the invention, '1 cmploy a double truncated conical wedge 03, the lower trunk cl of which serves to impart an initial outward fiexure of the tongues c to engage the overhang c of each tongue with its recess a and thereafter force the several tongues within the respective slots or channels a The upper trunk d merely serves to force the tops of the several tongues c outwardly to facilitate the entrance of the cylindrical head of the wedge d and permit the top thereof to come flush with the upper face of the head a.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 3

and 4 of the drawings, the recess a is 1n trunk (is of which serves merely to force the overhang 0 of each tongue 0 into said groove or channel a and prevent its escape therefrom. The head of the wedge is cylindrical and there is a narrow shoulder a? about same presented toward the trunk adapted to engage the tops of the several tongues, and thus position the top of the wedge substantially flush with the upper face of the head a.

'As stated above, the peripheral groove or channel forming the recess a permits rotation of the head with relation to the tongue 0, and while this does not affect the operativeness of the button, it'may'be desired in some instances to avoidthis condition.

The wedge d, in each formof the invention shown, is provided with a reduced cylindrical end 9 adapted to enter the open ing 5' with the lower face thereof slightly above the lower face of the plate 6.

ln attaching and detaching a button made in accordance with my invention, I employ a bodkinlike special tool having a reduced stem h adapted to passthrough the opening Z) and engage the end of a wedge 03, and an enlarged conical head h having a needle-like point, and a recess it about the stern h adapted to receive the overhangs c of the tongues c of an attaching means. I have found in actual practice that such a tool may be used to pass the tongues through two plies of heavy cloth with the usual interlining, without cutting the weft of the fabric to anextent which will make it possible to detect, after the detachment of the button from the cloth, where a button embodying my invention has been positioned.

in attaching a button made in accordance with my invention, the stem h of the bodkin-like tool is passed through the space within the several tongues c and through the opening 6 in the plate 6. Said tongues are pressed together until the free ends thereof enter the recess h? in the head it. The head It is then passed through the fabric, the conical head spreading the weft and warp in a manner to provide space for the passage of the tongues 6 without cutting the The tool is then withdrawn from the plate 7) and tongues 0 and a ring or washer e is passed over the tongues c, or if desired said washer may be passed over the head h before same is withdrawn, as described.

CJI

Ahuttonheadfa is then mounted nponthe tongues c, which enter .the openingaythe ring or washer limitingtheinovementvofthe head to approximately :that "required to a the wedge (Z is passed through the top of the opening-a into the space within said tongues, thus forcing. the overhang a ofthe tongues into,:'andholding them in, the recess a When properly positioned, the top 'of the wedged will be flush with the upper face of the head aand' the reducedcylindrical end .9 will be seated inthe opening 6 of the back. plate 3) andexposed throughnthe bottom of said opening.

In the form of theinvention the trunk 03 will engagethe tongues c adjacentithe .overhangs c :andforce said overhangsinto the recess therefor, during the initial movement of the wedge, and will thereafter hold the tongues c in their respective grooves or channels (4 the trunk cl? serving to insure forcing the tops of the tongues outwardly to permit the entrance of the cylindrical top of the wedge therebetween and permit it. to come flush with the top surface of the head a.

In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 3 and 4 there will be a continuing wedging action by the trunk (Z until the shoulder d engages the top of the tongue, at which times the top of the wedge will be flush with the upper surface of the head a.

If it be desired to detach a button, the stem h is used to force the wedge (Z outwardly of the head aby engaging the end of said stem with the end g,through the opening 7). With the removal of the wedge the tongues 0 will either spring away from the wall of the opening a through elasticity inherent thereto, so as to cause the overhangs to pass from the recess a or will flex under pressure applied thereto through said overhangs and the lower shoulder of the recess, as result of a pull exerted upon the head a with the same result.

When the head a has been separated from the attaching means therefor, the tongues 0 may be drawn through the fabric, and'the name button may be reapplied to a garment, a condition particularly desirable in fitting and refitting garments.

In use, a button made in accordance with my invention differs in appearance from the ordinary button merely in the absence of the thread holes, althoughin the .fonnotthe invention shown inrFigs. 1 and '2, the exposed ends of. the tongues will somewhat .resemble such openings.

It ilS. not :my intention to limit the inventionatothe precise details of construction shown .in the drawings, it being apparent that'asuch; may be varied without departing ifromfthe spirit-wand scope of theinvention.

Having described the invention, what I claim. as new and desire to have protected by Letters Patent, is-:-

.1. IA detachable button embodying therein assolid head having an opening etherethroughpthe Wf LllIOf. said opening being recessed, and attaching means comprising a back plate: having an'open-ing tlierethrough, a plurality of lyieldable tongues projecting therefromabout said opening,.an overhang 011, and extending outwardly of, each'ofsaid tongues, said'tongues being adapted toenter thenopeningin said head and the overhang thereofbeing adapted to enter theirecessed portion thereof, and a :removable wedge adaptedtopass through the opening in said head, between said tongues and into .the :openinginsaid plate,:whereby the overhang of said tongues will be forced into said re- .cessed; portionand saidtongues will be held against displacement.

2. TA detachable button embodying therein a'soli'dlhea d having an opening therethrough,

the wall of said openingbeing recessed, and t ttaching means comprising a' back plate having an opening therethrough, a plurality of yieldable tongues projecting therefrom about said opening, an overhang on, and extending outwardly of, each of said tongues,

. saidtongues beingadapte'd to enter the opening in said head and the overhang thereof being adapted to enter the recessed portion thereof, and a removable wedge adapted to pass through: the opening in said head,having a. truncated conical portion adapted to enter between said tongues, a cylindrical portion, thetop of which is adapted to be brought substantiallyhfiush with the upper surface of said head, and a reduced cylindrical portion adapted to enter the opening of said plate and be exposed through the bottom of said opening, whereby the overhangs of said tongues will be forced into said recessed portion and said tongues will be held against displacement.

3. A detachable button embodying therein a solid head having an opening therethrough, the wall of said opening being recessed, and

attaching means comprising a back plate having an opening therethrough, a plurality of yieldable tongues projecting therefrom about said opening, an overhang on, and extending outwardly of, each of said tongues, said tongues being adapted to enter the opening in said head and the overhang thereof being adapted to enter the recessed portion thereof, a resilient ring or washer upon said tongues adjacent said head, and a removable wedge adapted to pass through the opening in said head, between said tongues and into the opening in saidplate, whereby the overhang of said tongues will be forced into said recessed portion and said tongues will be held against displacement.

4:. A. detachable button embodying therein a solid head having an opening therethrough, the wall of said opening being recessed, and attaching means comprising a back plate having an opening therethrough, a plurality of yieldable tongues projecting therefrom about said opening, and extending outwardly of, each of said tongues, said tongues being adapted to enter the opening in said head and the overhang thereof being adapted tolenter the recessed 'portlon thereof, means preventing relative rotary movement of said head and said tongues, and a removablewedge adapted to pass through the opening in said head, be-

tween said tongues and into the opening in having an opening therethrough, a plurality V of yieldable tongues projecting therefrom about said opening, an overhang on, and extenchngoutwardly of, each of said tongues,

said tongues being adapted to enter the longitudinal slots or grooves in the wall of the opening of said head, and the. overhang thereof being adapted to enter the recessed portion of said opening, and a removable wedge adapted to pass through the opening vin said head, between said tongues and into the opening in said plate, whereby said an overhang on,

tongues will be forced into said slots or grooves respectively, and the overhang of each of said tongues will be forced into sald recessed portion adjacent said slot or groove,

will be held against disand said tongues placement. 1- i.

6. A detachable button embodying therein a'solid head having an opening therethrough, said opening having a plurality of longitudinally extending slots or grooves in the wall thereof, and being recessed adjacent the upper end of each of said slots or grooves,

and attaching means comprising a back plate having an opening therethrough, a plurality of yieldable tongues pro ecting therefrom about said opening, an overhang on, and extending outwardly of, each of said tongues, said tongues being adapted to enter the longitudinal slots or grooves in the wall of the opening of said head, and the overhang thereof being adaptedto enter the re- ;cessed port1on of said opening, and a removable wedge adapted to pass through the opening in said head, said wedge havinga cylindrical portion, the top of which is adapted to be brought substantially flush with the upper surface of said head, a truncated conical portion adjacent said last named portion, a reduced cylindrical end adapted to enter the opening in said plate and be exposed through the bottom of said opening, and a truncated conical portion intermediate said reduced cylindrical portion and said first named conical portion, whereby said tongues will be forced into said longitudinal slots or grooves, and said overhangs of said tongues respectively will be forced into said recessed portion, and said tongues will be ield against displacement.

in witness whereof I have hereunto afzixed my 'signature, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, th1s'9th day of June,

- VINGENZO F. MELFI.

Witnesses F. 'l. WENTWORTH, FRIE A KonnLnR. 

